The Word
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said,”
— Genesis 1:1-3 NASB
Warm Up
- Can you give a quick example when God spoke to you through the bible?
Lessons
Video coming soon
The very reason you breathe, live, and walk the earth is because God speaks. He says it, and it is. The fact that God speaks to us exposes His nature to be in a living, loving, and inspiring relationship with you as His sons and daughters. From the beginning of time, the Father desired to speak to you and He does this in several ways. And so we ask, how does God speak and how will I respond when God does speak to me?
The first way that God speaks to us is through the Bible; the written Word of God. This is known as the Logos. The Logos is a statement of God's reality. For example, John 1 says… In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Logos was with God and the Logos was God. This is a statement of reality that Jesus is God. The Bible serves as a roadmap of what is reliable, true and unchanging. We trust the Bible to keep us rooted in God's reality and follow Jesus on The Way.
“Remember your leaders, who spoke God's word (logos) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
— Hebrews 13:7 NIVThe Bible is a divine collection of 66 books, often called the canon, meaning rule or standard. The Bible holds writings from 40 different authors, spanning over 1500 years, which tell a unified and cohesive story that points toward one man, Jesus Christ. We believe the Spirit of God inspired these writings with over 1000 prophecies fulfilled by the Messiah. There are more original manuscripts of scripture than any other historical literature. There are also more printed Bibles in circulation today than any other book on the planet. God has prioritized preserving His word and releasing it in every global dialect on every continent.
“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you because our gospel came to you not only in word (logos) but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word (logos) in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
— 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6All Scripture must be taken seriously as it will shape our lives.
“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word (logos) spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”
— Hebrews 2:1-4 NASBUndeniable Impact!
The Bible has had a major impact on history. It has shaped cultures and influenced political systems. Its teachings have inspired social movements and provided moral guidance, especially in the Western world. The ideas of morality, justice, and equality in the Bible have affected laws, philosophy, and even science. Over time, many groups have interpreted these teachings in different ways, but the Bible continues to be a foundational text for many cultures and their values.
Many people express concern about how the Bible has been misused. Remember! Rather than using the Bible to advance our own agendas, we should seek to align ourselves with God's purpose and become instruments of His love and compassion. The real issue is that many Christians do not read the Bible or allow it to guide them. There is nothing more dangerous than a Christian who claims to speak for God without knowing what God actually says. The Bible is a gift and a guiding light in both good and bad times. It is meant to be read not just for knowledge but to know the living God and to hear His voice through others and directly from Him.
“Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
— James 1:27 NASB- From 1-10, how hungry are you for God's word and why?
- What would increase your hunger for God's word?